So, I wasn't able to register for the conference because the site was down and once I was able to get through the $205 tier had sold out. I'm waitlisted for the conference, but what about the banquet? As far as I can tell, there's no way to buy a banquet ticket without a conference registration. I could register for a lower-tier conference package to make sure I can get into the banquet, but then I'm just forcing someone else onto a waitlist unnecessarily.

I'd get the $195 ticket with Banquet. The only difference from the full ticket is the Thursday seminars, right?

I'm sure you could find something to do on Thursday afternoon

that's what I did, sans banquet. I'll probably regret that but this trip is pushing the expense envelope anyway and 50 bucks is a bit much. I'll catch Mr Paxton at the northern california homebrew conference.